The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-04

but, on several occasions, cut short the
disease. Hasty consideration of his
evidence would, no doubt, result in its
being accepted as proving that ergot is
the essential cause of abortion.
We would also call attention to the
fact that Mr.. johnson contradicts some
(hitherto thought to beg well demon
stated propositions as to the part played
in the causation of abortion by impure
water, weak water, time of breeding,
etc. The conclusions arrived at by Mr.
Johnson, and which are of interest to
us here, are as follows, being given
verbatim:
N) Four hundred cases of abortion have
taken place within small area. (2) Two
hundred of these were on stiff clay-land.
(3) On light lands in the neighborhood
serious outbreaks are unknown. q I'm
PROJECTIONS in bulls, bad water, infection,
sympathy, etc, have had little or no effect
in contributing to the malady. (j) Cows
abort in each month of the year, and at any
period of CESSATION after the fourth month.
born living; at other times fresh rarely
putrid. (6) An animal which has once
aborted may and may not do so again. %
Premontory symptoms may be practically
absent, or may be present fully three weeks
prior to abortion. (S) Cows aborting do not
give the quantity of milk which they would
otherwise do by one-third or one-half 90
They do not fatten for some two or three
months after such an occurrence. Q0) Iso-
lation had no appreciable effect in prevent
ing the extension of this disease. 0D Ergot
was found on every farm where abortion
had recently taken place, when sought for
at time that it would be visible if present.
40 Ergot could not be found when
specially sought for on farm where abor-
ton was not present. Q3) -Four or five
only out of the four hundred cases had no
opportunity of partaking of hay or grass
within month of aborting. 0l) Removal
from known ergotized fields to aftermath
and to sheds (entirely) has, on several occa-
sions, cut short the disease. 90 In all
serious outbreaks which took place while the
cattle were indoors some of the hay then
consumed was made late. Q6) The only in
stance in the winter of 1885 and 1886 where
serious outbreaks occurred both the farmers
had moved late the surplus grass of pas
ture. 90 Ergot has been found in late
made hay.
In addition to the foregoing, Mr..
johnson makes the following sugges-
tions to prevent ergot being taken with
the food:
, % Change feed and pasture. (2) Do
not let grass in ergotted pastures flower for
} at least two years after it is first discovered
, to be diseased. (3) Examine pastures and
} hay-felds for ergotted grass, directing atten-
ton especially to damp and shady places
as the north side of trees, hedges and wall
: and fence of infected areas. az Ergot is
most readily discovered during the months
of September, October and November. (5)
Burn ergot when found. (6) Do not feed
patent (mixed) foods.
So far the matter shows up pretty
well for Mr.. Johnson, but in the next
paper he comes out with a notice of Pro-
fessor Nocaed's great work in France
Professor Nocaed has found the germ
VI lnC NllSCdSC SthulhC llllSlODC'
Having recognized this principle of in
lection, it remained to attack it in such
, manner as should not only terminate
its activity in an animal which it had
{ already caused to abort, but should pre-
vent its transmission to other animals.
The professor declines to declare him
self positively as having done this.
J He has, however, proposed methods of
dealing with the disease which bid fair
| to accomplish quite all that could be
desired.
y This " microbe " is an exceedingly
' subtle and active little imp, and will
convey himself to healthy animals by
{ the clothing of the attendants, or even
through the air, and, having infected a
healthy animal, requires at least year
before it becomes effective and causes
abortion. Here are Mr.. Rice's con-
illusions:
:, This much for the causes of epzootic OF
infectious abortion. 1t will be seen that
= two chief causes are suspected: ~ Ergot-
i ISM (2) infection. OF these it is fair tc
t suppose that each plays its part. But that
k ergot plays more than minor and acct
q dental part may, we think, well be doubted
These facts together seem to the writer to
y take the form of an unconvertible PROPOSE
i ton. Other than infection, the causes Of
Il abortion may be considered as only eXcit
r ing or predisposing; the essential cause
d that to which all abortions mot due to me
n chanical violence) may be traced, either di
. rectly or indirectly, being infection.
The experience of localities where
- this trouble has existed will confirm
- and contradict any or all of these thee
ries, and we are yet left without posi-
tive knowledge of its cause or causes
. its progress or its cure. One COW il
y our herd has aborted for two years
;, while the rest, running in the sam,
pasture and standing in the same stable
=. are, so far as we can see, free from tn,
= trouble, dropping their calves in du
:. time. And so, as we said, various in
" stances contradict all the theories. W.